Lady&#39;s handbag



Dec. 14, 1937. J. E GOLDBERG 2,161,997I

LADYS HANDBAG Filed Ot. 24, 1935 ATTO R N EYS Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to bags, and more particularly to ladies handbags.

One object of my invention resides in the provision of a ladys handbag which will combine the features of both a frame bag and an envelope bag. Another object is to provide a ladys handbag with a flap which will open easily and turn well back away from the rest of the bag in a neat manner and without necessitating bending of the ap with its consequent tendency to fall back over to closed position. my invention is to secure the ap to the handbag body at a point substantially elevated above the handbag body, so that the bag is slenderized in appearance and tapers off toward the top even though stuffed full. The carrying capacity of the bag is increased, all without disfiguring the shape of the bag by excessive bulging.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a construction in which the flap is detachably secured to the handbag frame so that any one of a number offlaps may be used with the bag. This is of advantage to the manufacturer in enabling him to ll a variety of orders al type frame modified to only a limited extent, and more especially by the addition of extra supports to an otherwise conventional frame.v A further object of the invention is to so dispose the supports that they serve to conceal the crevice between the hinged members of the handbag frame and instead provide an attractive decorative strip which contrasts with the materials of the handbag.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the handbag elements and their relation one to the other, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a handbag embodying features of my invention, the handbag being in closed condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the flap of the bag thrown open;

Fig. 3 is a View looking toward the opposite side of the handbag with the frame portion of the bag opened;

Still another object of fill the foregoing objects while using a convention-v Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, the handbag comprises a stiff hinged frame F and a handbag body B secured to said frame. The handbag body is provided at one side with a pocket P adapted to be closed by a suitable flap or closure C. Flap C is mechanically hinged to supports S projecting upwardly from frame F, thus enabling the flap to be thrown readily open to the position shown in Fig. 2. This is accomplished without necessitatingbending ofthe flap. Because of the elevated attachment of the flap to the frame," the slenderized appearance and the carrying capacity are greatly increased. Any bulge caused by stuffing the bag is readily accommodated without deformiiig or excessively bulging the flap.

VConsidering the arrangement in greater detail, the frame Fis preferably made of metal, and comprises two inverted U-shaped members I2 and I4 hinged at their lower or open ends IE. The frame members are preferably channelshaped in cross-section with the open sides of the channel directed outwardly, as is most clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing. The frame may be provided with any suitable lock, here exemplified by a finger piece I8 which engages a suitable tongue or detent 20. The iinger piece I8 is preferably mounted on that side of the frame which carries the supports S, so that the finger piece projects away from the ap and is openly accessible at the opposite side of the bag.

The present frame is modified in accordance with my invention by the addition of the supports S. These supports are preferably made of stiff sheet metal and the lower portions are `I shaped'in cross-section including an inner wall 22 and an outer wall 24, as is best shown in Fig. 5. The inner Wall 22 is disposed inside the outer or face wall 26 of frame member I2 and is there secured by any suitable means, as by soldering, spot-Welding, brazing or the like. The outer wall 24 is turned away from framemember I2 and thus serves to cover the sides of the opposite frame member I4 when the bag is closed. The supports thus serve to conceal any breach or gap between the frame members, and by suitably nishing the same, as by the use of nickel or chromium plating or the like, they may be made to contrast with the fabric or leather materials of the handbag body, thereby improving the overall appearance of the bag. The inner sides 22 CAD of thesupport vare shorter than rthe outer sides 55 2li, the latter projecting upwardly above the frame, whereas the former terminate within the frame.

The handbag body B may assume any one of a variety of known conventional forms and probably requires no detailed description. In the present case, the body is gusseted at both the side and bottom edges, and is suitably lined, both the outer and lining materials 28 and 30 being clamped within the channeled frame members, as is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The sides of the bag may, if desired, be reinforced and stiffened by the insertion of intermediate stiifening material 32.

The pocket P also requires no detailed description and lnay assume any of a variety of forms. In the present case the pocket is obliquely gusseted at 34 and extends to the bottom edge of the handbag. Fig. 2 illustrates the pocket when drawn to widely open position.

The flap or closure C is made of. any desired material and shape, but is preferably provided with a straight upper edge adapted to be secured to a hinge bar 35, the ends of which are pivotally received in supports S. Considered more specically, the ap is made of a layer of outer material 3%, a layer of cardboard or other stiffening material fifi, and a layer of lining material 2. The outer and lining materials 38 and :i2 are turn-stitched about the periphery of the envelope. The top edge is received within hinge member 36, said member being channel-shaped and preferably of curved section, as is best shown in Fig. 4. The edges of hinge bar 36 are clamped tightly against the flap, and the ap and hinge bar form a permanent inseparable structure.

To pivot the hinge bar on the support S, I form small lugs or projections 44 at the ends of the hinge bar, and these are received in mating perforations 46 in supports S. The arrangement is such that the flap when opened turns the hinge bar with it. The closure of pocket P is completed by means of any suitable: fastener here illustrated by a snap fastener, the female element 48 of which is clearly shown in Fig. 2. 'I'he male element is secured to the inner Wall of the flap C and is not visible in the drawing.

It will be noted that because the supports S, while mounted on frame member I2, are directed toward frame member I4, the top portion of the nap is carried over the top of the bag, thus concealing the crevice between the frame members. This fact, together with concealment provided by the supports S gives the bag an unusually neat and finished appearance.

The supports S are stiff, but somewhat yieldable, and this makes it possible to attach or detach the nap by spreading the ends of the support apart, thus freeing the hinged projections 44. This feature is convenient for the manufacturer because he may make the flap and bag body of contrasting material and/or of contrasting colors, and a large variety of bags may be oiered the trade without complicating the manufacturing process. These bags may be assembled in desired materials and colors in accordance with the orders received from the customers. Furthermore, the bag may be marketed in sets including two or more flaps, thus permitting the owner to change the appearance of the bag as and when desired.

It is believed that the mode of constructing and using, as well as the many advantages of my improved ladys handbag. will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof.` The flap opens easily and turns well back away from the rest of the bag in a neat manner. It stays back without any tendency to fall over in front, as would be the case when the flap material is bent. The flap retains its new appearance for a long time because it is not bent repeatedly in order to open and close the bag pocket. Either part of the handbag may be stuffed full without immediately deforming the overall shape of the bag, and without bulging the flap and causing the snap fastener to spring open. This is so because the flap starts at a high elevation and accommodates filling or" the bag by changing its slope. Even when lled, the bag appears to taper olf properly toward the top and presents a neat and slender appearance. The flap is removable and may be changed as to color and material. This is convenient for the manufacturer and also the user, if the bag is purchased with several flaps or if several bags are purchased and the flaps inter-changed.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A ladys handbag comprising a stiff hinged frame, a handbag body secured to said frame, a pocket at one side o-f said handbag body, a flexible iiap for closing the aforesaid pocket, and a tubular metallic stifening member secured to the top edge of said flap, said member being longitudinally slit to receive the top edge of the flap, the ends of said member being pivotally secured to said frame by a mechanical hinge arrangement facilitating oscillation of the flap relative to the frame without necessitating bending of the flap.

2. A ladys handbag comprising a stiff hinged frame, a handbag body secured to said frame, a pocket at one side of said handbag body, a flexible ap secured to said frame for closing the afore-l said pocket, and a tubular metallic stiffening member secured to the top. edge of said ap, said member being longitudinally slit to receive the top edge of the flap, the ends of said member being secured to said frame by a mechanical hinge arrangement facilitating oscillation of the flap relative to the frame without bending of the flap, said hinge being located at a substantial distance above the top edge of the handbag body.

3. A ladys handbag comprising a stiff hinged frame, a handbag body secured to the frame, a soft unframed pocket formed on one of the outer sides of the handbag body, a soft unframed flap for closing said pocket, a stiff metallic elongated hinge member receiving the upper edge of the flap, and a pair of supports secured to the frame and projecting upwardly therefrom for a substantial distance above the top of the handbag body, the upper ends of said supports being provided with means pivotally receiving the aforesaid hinge member.

4. A ladys handbag comprising a stiff frame including two inverted U-shaped members hingedly connected at the lower ends thereof, a handbag body the edges of which are secured in the frame members, a pocket formed on one of the outer sides of the handbag body, a flap for closing said pocket, a stiff channel-shaped hinge member receiving the upper edge of the flap, and a pair of supports secured to one of said frame members and projecting upwardly therefrom above the top of the handbag body,-the upper Cil ends of said supports being provided with means pivotally receiving the aforesaid hinge member, whereby the ap is mechanically pivotally mounted on the frame at a point substantially elevated above the top of the handbag body.

5. A ladys handbag comprising a stiff metallic frame including two inverted U-shaped members hingedly connected at the lower ends thereof, said frame being channel-shaped in section with the open edge of the channel directed outwardly, a gusseted handbag body the edges of which are secured in the frame channel, a pocket formedv on one of the outer sides of the handbag body, a ap for closing said pocket, a stiff channel-shaped metallic hinge member receiving and clamped upon the upper edge of the ap, and a pair of supports secured to one of said frame members and projecting upwardly therefrom above the top of the handbag body, the upper ends of said supports being provided with means pivotally receiving the aforesaid hinge member, whereby the flap is mechanically pivotally mounted on the frame at a point substantially elevated above the top of the handbag body.

6. A ladys handbag comprising a stiff metallic frame including two inverted U-shaped members hingedly connected at the lower ends thereof, said frame being channel-shaped in section with the open edge of the channel directed outwardly, a handbag body the edges of which are secured in the frame channel, a pocket formed on one of the outer sides of the handbag body, a flap for closing said pocket, a stii channel-shaped metallic hinge member receiving and clamped upon the upper edge of the iiap, and a pair of supports for the vhinge member secured to one of said frame members and projecting upwardly therefrom above the top of the handbag body, the lower portions of said supports being L-shaped in section with one side secured in the channel of the frame, and the other side lying outside the frame and covering the space between the frame members, said latter sides projecting upwardly to form the upper portions of the supports which receive the hinge member.

'7. A ladys handbag comprising a stiff metallic frame including two inverted U-shaped members hingedly connected at the lower ends thereof, said frame being channel-shaped in section with the open edge of the channel directed outwardly, a handbag body the edges of which are secured in the frame channel, a pocket formed on one of the outer sides of the handbag body, a flap for closing said pocket, and a pair of supports for the flap secured to one of said frame members and projecting upwardly therefrom above the top of the handbag body, the lower portions of said supports being L-shaped in section with one side secured in the channel of the frame, and the other side lying outside of the frame and covering the space between the frame members, said latter sides projecting upwardly to form supports for the flap.

JAMES E. GOLDBERG. 

